Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Vancouver: what you need to know
Book a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver and you'll be in the air for around 2 hours 26 minutes.
Vancouver and San Francisco (where San Francisco International Airport is located) share the UTC-7 timezone. That means you won't have to change your watch when you land.
The most popular route is from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR). You can choose from 85 weekly services between these two airports. If you want to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from SFO to YVR is the 06:20 Air Canada service. If you prefer to travel later, the final departure is at 21:05 with United.
To ensure you catch your flight from SFO to Vancouver, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Peak months like August or high seasons such as summer and spring break will mean longer lines at check-in and security. Play it safe and head to the airport even earlier. Arriving two hours before domestic flights and up four hours ahead of international flights is a wise move.
You can book a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver. Start your trip at SFO and land at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).
You'll have your choice of airlines that operate direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver. Book your journey with one of these:
We make it simple to plan a flight from SFO to Vancouver with a stopover. To see all your options, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, select a flight offering a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Top stopovers include:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
If you have a passport from United States and want to travel to Canada for tourism purposes, you won't need a visa. However, visa and entry requirements may vary based on the reason for your trip and can be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, contact your destination's nearest embassy or consulate before reserving a cheap ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver.
Located around 21 kilometres from central San Francisco, SFO can be reached in approximately 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The same journey on public transport will take roughly 47 minutes.
Catching an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by picking one of these stays close to SFO:
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Vancouver
R 673 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 2,186. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares could change.
Book 9 months before your departure date. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap tickets from SFO to Vancouver.
May is the cheapest month for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver. If you want to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from SFO to Vancouver. You don't need to check back in every day to find out if prices have dropped. We'll tell you as soon as the price changes.
Tailor your travel plans with filters. Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver.
Airports in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver is roughly 14 kilometres. It takes around 26 minutes to reach the centre driving.
Getting there on public transport will take you around 33 minutes.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver. Reserve one of these accommodation options near YVR instead:
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) is about 2 kilometres from the centre of Vancouver. Once you've disembarked your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver, it'll take you around 5 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
You can also travel by public transport, which will take around 16 minutes.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel close to CXH. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your flight from SFO to Vancouver:
Best time to go to Vancouver
August is the busiest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver. To escape the crowds, head to Vancouver in May when things are quieter.
Before booking a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver, think about the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Vancouver, with temperatures ranging from 13ºC to 24ºC.
Search for cheap flights from SFO to Vancouver in December if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC and 7ºC on average.
More about Vancouver
Start your Vancouver trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver, browse our range of accommodation options including:
Every great holiday has to include some sightseeing. Stanley Park, Granville Island and Science World are essential stops on your Vancouver itinerary.
Complete your Vancouver trip with a car rental
Select one of our car rentals in Vancouver and see the sights at your own pace. Easily compare rates in one go to find your perfect ride after booking your hotel and cheap flights from San Francisco International Airport to Vancouver.